Balawat Gates (Gates of Shalmaneser III)
by Ancient Assyrian (Unknown), -850
Artwork Details
Details
- Year
- -850
- Medium
- Bronze bands on wood
- Size
- Original gates: 600 cm (20 ft) tall
Cite or Embed This Work
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The Balawat Gates are massive bronze bands that once decorated the wooden gates of the palace of the Assyrian king Shalmaneser III (858-824 BCE). Now displayed at the British Museum, these notable reliefs depict military campaigns, sieges, and tribute processions in extraordinary detail.
Discovered in 1878 at ancient Imgur-Enlil (modern Balawat, Iraq), the bands preserve vivid scenes of Assyrian warfare and diplomacy. Soldiers march in formation, siege engines attack cities, and conquered peoples present tribute to the king. These images provide invaluable documentation of ancient Near Eastern military technology, costume, and architecture.
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About Balawat Gates (Gates of Shalmaneser III)
The main set of gates is displayed at the British Museum in London. Additional fragments are held by other museums.
The bronze bands show Assyrian military campaigns, including battles, sieges, and tribute processions, providing detailed documentation of ancient warfare.
They date to the reign of King Shalmaneser III, approximately 858-824 BCE, making them nearly 3,000 years old Assyrian created it as part of the Assyrian (Mesopotamia) artistic tradition.
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